March Madness Grips Levittown School

LEVITTOWN, PA —March Madness recently took hold of the students at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) at Samuel Everitt School.

The exhilaration generated by the annual college basketball tournament brought out some serious basketball skills and lots of smiles as the Samuel Everitt students went toe-to-toe with their teachers and support staff at their own March Madness basketball event on March 22, school officials said.

“This was an opportunity for teamwork and collaboration among our students and staff that helps teach and model working toward a common goal,” said Janean Ciancia, Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt's principal.

Madness was not on the final game scores.

Instead, the focus was on what mattered most to
the students, and that was interacting with staff members outside of their regular class routines
and having fun, school officials said.

Bryson Wilson was one of the day’s bright stars on the Samuel Everitt court. He scored several
times during his team’s game. “I did a lot of practicing,” Bryson (age ten) said. “It takes me a lot
of time. You just focus and never give up.”

The students prepared for the March Madness basketball games by participating in skill clinics
on March 15.

Staff members helped the students work on their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills in preparation for the day of the big games. To qualify to participate in the clinics and games, students earned points during the school week by completing their schoolwork,
following directions, staying safe, and demonstrating responsibility and respectfulness.

Everitt student Carlisle Navedo, 9, qualified for his March Madness game by staying
focused in class during the week. He said his favorite part of the game was shooting the
basketball and scoring.

“It makes me feel good,” he said.

The Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt offers educational programs for students with autism,
emotional needs, and multiple disabilities. The school serves more than 150 students from
kindergarten through 21 years of age from school districts in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Jameer Cunningham-Smith, a 13-year-old student, said he loves to play basketball and get the
chance to take on his teachers.

“It’s fun to play everyone to see how everyone else experiences it too,” the soon-to-be high school student said. "Thank you to everybody. They have helped me so much.”